San Francisco police dogs get new bullet-proof vests

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The streets of San Francisco just got a bit safer for the police department's K-9 unit. The SFPD's four-legged officers will now wear bullet-proof vests, just like their handlers.

The non-profit group Cover Your Canine has donated the custom fit protective gear along with medical packs for immediate care if a canine is hurt in the line of duty.

"We're going to use these vests every day to keep our dogs alive," SFPD Tactical Company K-9 Unit Sgt. Ron Banta said. "They're similar to what our cops wear but as you can see, they're custom fit, they say police on the side and they're ready available for us to put on the dogs whenever we feel the dogs are going into any dangerous type situations."

The vests weigh about four pounds each, but officers say the dogs don't seem to mind.

Cover Your Canine uses money raised from Pet Food Express dog washing events to make the $1,500 vests and give them to K-9 units across the state for free.